Nestory Irankunda
Australian soccer player (born 2006) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nestory "Nestor" Irankunda (born 9 February 2006) is a professional football player who plays as a winger for A-League club Adelaide United. He will join German club Bayern Munich in July 2024.[6]
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | (2006-02-09) 9 February 2006 (age 18)[1] | ||
Place of birth | Kigoma, Tanzania[2] | ||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[note 1] | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Adelaide United | ||
Number | 66 | ||
Youth career | |||
Northern Wolves | |||
Parafield Gardens | |||
2018–2020 | Adelaide Croatia Raiders | ||
2021 | Adelaide United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2021–2023 | Adelaide United NPL | 30 | (6) |
2022– | Adelaide United | 60 | (16) |
International career‡ | |||
2022–2023 | Australia U17 | 7 | (11) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 June 2023 |
Born in Kigoma, Tanzania, Irankunda played youth football in Adelaide, playing for Adelaide Croatia Raiders before moving to Adelaide United in 2021. He started his professional career when he signed a scholarship contract in September 2021, followed by his league debut in January 2022, becoming the sixth youngest debutant in A-League history at the time. He scored his first league goal the same year, becoming the second youngest goalscorer in the competition. Irankunda was announced to join Bayern Munich in July 2024 for an undisclosed fee, presumably, breaking the A-League transfer record. In March 2024, he scored his first hat-trick, becoming the second youngest to do so in Australia men's history.
Eligible to represent Burundi and Australia, Irankunda has opted to represent Australia. He was called up to the Australia national team but only made appearances on the bench. At youth level, he helped lead the Australia U17 squad to qualification for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup, scoring eleven goals in total.[7]